Date: 03/02/2022 Shift: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Q. No: 28

The blowout of an Oil India Limited (OIL) gas well in Assam’s Tinsukia district last week is causing extensive damage to biodiversity and wildlife in the region, including the endangered hoolock gibbons and Gangetic dolphins.
Baghjan, where the gas well blowout occurred on 27 May, is close to the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, the Maguri-Motapung wetlands, and the forest villages of Barekuri which are habitat to the hoolock gibbon.
Uncontrollable gas flow is continuing from the gas well.
“What we are seeing is complete horror. Condensed oil is leaking continuously. The Maguri-Motapung wetlands (an important bird and biodiversity area) is very badly affected. There is a thick layer of crude oil on the water. Fish are dying and some cattle that graze in the adjacent wetlands are also dead,” said Mridupaban Phukon, a student and wildlife activist.
“We have been informed by people in Barekuri villages that condensed oil is coating leaves and has started affecting the hoolock gibbon habitat. If not contained immediately the wetlands and national park will be devastated,” he said.
Around 650 families have been evacuated from the affected areas and continue to be camped in three relief camps.
“I visited the area on Sunday but it was barricaded. I could see the damage everywhere. Dead fish were floating and the vegetation is brown now. One Gangetic dolphin died soon after the leak. Usually the Maguri jheel is rich with birdlife, I could hardly spot any birds that day. I appeal for immediate help,” said Nabamita Ray, a doctor and wildlife enthusiast.
Oil India’s crisis management team (CMT) members have started pumping water through the casing valve. Water is being pumped continuously through the valve into the well head. Oil India has also contacted global experts to control the blowout.The water pumps are being installed in the nearby river (source of water) and pipeline-laying work is in progress.
A blowout is the uncontrolled release of crude oil or natural gas from an oil well or gas well after pressure control systems have failed.
Dibru-Saikhowa has recorded over 40 mammals, 500 species of birds, 104 fish species, 105 butterfly species and 680 types of plants. It harbours tigers, elephants, wild buffalos, leopards, hoolock gibbons, capped langurs, slow lorises, Gangetic dolphins, besides critically endangered bird species such as the Bengal florican, white-winged duck, greater adjutant stork, white-rumped vulture, slender-billed vulture, and the very rare and endemic black-breasted parrotbill. All these are facing threat from the uncontrolled flow of the oil.